Game apparatus



' Feb. 11, 1947. c, -WOLF 2,415,780

GAME APPARATUS Fi led Oct. 14, 1944' PAUL C. WOLF BYjW ATTORNEY PatentedFeb. 11, 1947 men STATES FFlC 2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to amusement or game apparatus or devices, andaims to provide a novel and practical device which, together with anumber of balls or the like which may be used to play a game,constitutes the apparatus whereby an interesting, entertaining andamusing game may be played by persons of practically all ages aboveinfancy.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the followingdescription, wherein characters of reference refer to like-numberedparts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing isintended for the purpose of illustration only, and that it is neitherdesired nor intended to limit the invention in any manner to thespecific details of construction shown. excepting insofar as they may bedeemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevational view ofthe device shown mounted above the floor or ground on a post, the latterbeing shown in broken lines, with the device shown in somewhat tiltedposition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken at right angles to Fig.1, with parts broken away and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral it indicates thesupporting frame or pedestal of the device, comprising two spaced legsH, H downwardly diverging from each other, and having inturned feet l2which may be joined or formed of one piece. By means of screws I 3 orthe like, the frame I!) may be mounted on top of a post, as illustratedat It, or on any sort of stand, support, wall bracket, or the like.

A pivot pin or axle l5 is supported in the upper ends of the legs I I,and pivotally mounted thereon is a wheel iii. A cup I! in the form of aninverted frustrum of a cone, is formed integrally with the wheel It insuch manner that the plane through the wheel at right angles to the axlel5 bisects the cup 11, and that portion of the wheel which would thusfall inside the walls of the cup is of course omitted.

The wheel I6 is made unbalanced by varying the thickness thereofprogressively from a minimum value at the opposite end of that diameterof the wheel which passes axially through the cup, to a maximum at theoutside walls of the cup, as indicated at [3 and I9, respectively.Provision is made, however, to control not only the degree of unbalanceof the wheel but also to bring the wheel into balance.

At the thinnest portion l8 of the wheel, a diametral slot 20 is formedthrough the rim of the wheel, 2!, and through the spider 22 upon whichthe rim is mounted, or, rather, with which the rim is formed integrallyas illustrated. A rod 23 is slidably mounted in the slot 20, and isadapted to be releasably locked in longitudinal position by a set screw24. An arcuate weighted extension 25 is secured to, or forms part of,the rod 23. It is apparent that withdrawal of the rod 23 tends to bringthe wheel into balance so that the cup ll stands upright, and pushingthe rod in causes the cup to assume a tilted position to bring aboutbalance of the wheel.

In playing the game, a plurality of balls, say one for each player, isused, and a smaller cup, which may be of the form of an hour glass, 26,may be positioned on the floor or ground adjacent the post it. Eachplayer endeavors to toss his call into the cup ii-from a distance. At acertain point in the game when the weight of the balls in the cup ll hasfurther increased the unbalance of the wheel, the weight of the ballswill cause the wheel to swing so as to tip the cup and thus cause theballs therein to spill out onto the ground. If each ball has a numberidentifying the player having tossed that ball, upon expelling of theballs the players may hurry after them, each to recover his own ball,and the one who thus first places his ball in the hour glass cup 2% maybe said to have won that match. Of course any other method or rules forplaying the game may be devised.

It is apparent that by varying the radial position of the weighted rod23 the sensitivity of the cup I"! to toppling over and expelling theballs therein is correspondingly varied, and it may also be so adjustedthat the cup H is upright at the start of the game.

The'apparatus above set forth would be suitable for installation inplaygrounds, gymnasiums, kindergartens, or in the home, for use iodoorsor outdoors.

Obviously modifications in form and structure may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a support having a horizontal axlemounted thereon, a wheel pivotally mounted on said axle, said wheelhaving a cup' radially positioned thereon with the open top of said cupfacing radially outward, and a radially slidable counterweight mountedon said Wheel diametrically opposite said cup.

2. A game apparatus comprising a support having a horizontal axlemounted thereon, a Wheel pivotally mounted on said axle, said wheelhaving a cup radially positioned thereon with the open top of said cupfacing radially outward, the thickness of said wheel varyingprogressively REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record.in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Reed Mar. 1, 1892 N umber

